Mobile Moodle Advice - What should I use?

Mobile Moodle Advice - What should I use?

by Diane Salamone -
Number of replies: 5

I found a document that indicates there are three ways to access Moodle on mobile devices:

  • Users can open Moodle sites in their mobile web browsers.
  • Users can download native apps for their mobile devices.
  • Admins can configure their Moodle site to be Mobile-accessible through server extensions.

I understand opening the Moodle site via the mobile web browser and I also understand downloading an app.  However, I am not sure what it means by the Admins can configure the site to be mobile accessible through server extensions.  What will this do and which method is best.  Is it best to download the apps or configure the site through server extensions? 

We will be upgrading to the latest version of Moodle this coming Summer.  We currently have 1.9.6.  I need to figure out what we should do about mobile access beforehand and what we will need to accomplish it.  Any advice would be appreciated.  Thanks!

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In reply to Diane Salamone

Re: Mobile Moodle Advice - What should I use?

by Diane Salamone -

Can anyone out there give me some guidance on Moodle for mobile devices?  Please see the question I posted.  Also, we do not have version 1.9.6.  We have version 1.9.12.  Thanks!  Diane

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In reply to Diane Salamone

Re: Mobile Moodle Advice - What should I use?

by Jérôme Mouneyrac -

Hi Diane,

what documentation are you talking about? 

If you upgrade to Moodle 2.2 or later, you can set up a specific theme for mobile devices and tablet. In parallel, you can also set up your Moodle site to be reachable by app like My Moodle (http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/my-moodle/id461289000?mt=8). 

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In reply to Jérôme Mouneyrac

Re: Mobile Moodle Advice - What should I use?

by Diane Salamone -

Hi Jerome! Thank you for replying.  I found some Mobile Moodle FAQ's at the following link: http://docs.moodle.org/22/en/Mobile_Moodle_FAQ

There seems to be quite a bit out there about using Moodle on mobile devices.  However, I am having a hard time tying everything together.  It seems to me that Moodle has to be configured in the server extensions for mobile accessibility to use it on mobile devices.  So, my understanding is that if you download the apps for the iphone or android you need to have the mobile server extensions enabled in Moodle 2.2.  It also appears that you need to have that enabled for the My Moodle that you mention.  It also looks like My Moodle only works with the iPhone.  Or is My Moodle the app that the FAQ's are talking about?  This is where I start to get confused.  Sorry, I am really kind of illiterate about the mobile aspects of anything.  I do not own a cell phone, since I cannot get access where I live.  In addition, my school will not be loading Moodle 2.2 until this summer.  However, I need to research and find what we want to do for a mobile solution to Moodle.  Any help anyone can provide would be appreciated. 

 

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In reply to Diane Salamone

Re: Mobile Moodle Advice - What should I use?

by Jérôme Mouneyrac -

Hi Diane,

I would not bother with the third point about the "mobile server extension" stuff ("Admins can configure their Moodle site to be Mobile-accessible through server extensions.").

Here are two common ways to set up Moodle for mobile usage:

1) the Moodle admin sets up a mobile theme in the administration (http://docs.moodle.org/22/en/Mobile_Moodle_FAQ#Where_can_I_select_a_theme_for_mobile_devices.3F). The mobile user (on iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile....) opens his/her mobile web browser and go to his/her Moodle site url. The Moodle site will be properly display in a mobile format.

2) the Moodle admin enables the mobile web service (http://docs.moodle.org/22/en/Mobile_web_services). The user install My Moodle (or another Moodle app) from the App Store on his iPhone. The user launches the app. The app will retrieve/send data from/to the Moodle site. The app is like a totaly different user interface with features that are unavailable from the mobile web browser version (take a picture and send it to moodle, view ressources in offline mode...)

Cheers,
Jerome 

PS: the third point is just an 'advanced' set up of 2). The way to set up a third point will always be explained to you if ever you require it.

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In reply to Diane Salamone

Re: Mobile Moodle Advice - What should I use?

by J. Chan -

Hi Diane

Our current apps, mPage, BookM and mPageU are designed to help users access their Moodle servers 1.9.x through our web service connection files.

Please check out more details from http://massmedia.hk.

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